Agreeing that proper environmental assessments need to be done before beginning wind-farm projects, he basically says the subjective debate over the esthetics of wind turbines and the relatively easy-to-deal-with issue of where to locate them should not overshadow the fact that global warming is hurting the planet and renewable energy provided through wind turbines should be encouraged.

“A blanket ‘not in my backyard’ approach is hypocritical and counterproductive,” he wrote, saying later, “If one day I look from my cabin’s porch and see a row of windmills spinning in the distance, I won’t curse them. I will praise them. It will mean we are finally getting somewhere.”

Here, here… I couldn’t agree more. I praise the wind turbine at Exhibition Place in Toronto every time I pass it. It makes me smile. It gives me hope and vision.

Unfortunately, many — such as Prince Charles — criticize windmills as a “blot on the landscape.” Suzuki says this “pisses” him off.

I’m completely on Suzuki’s side. I mean, what would these people rather see, beautiful beacons of hope in the distance, guardians of nature and the clean air around them, or oil-sand projects ripping the earth apart and spewing garbage into the air? Would they rather see natural gas or oil pipelines stretching across the country, or coal-burning plants spewing black smoke into the sky and giving asthma attacks to young children?

People really do have to put it all into perspective. Even if someone has a problem with windmills — how they look, the view they block or the handful of birds they kill each year — it’s certainly the far lesser evil compared to the alternative. It’s honourable to fight battles, but at least pick the right one.

That said, you truly can’t put wind turbines everywhere, and it’s a point Suzuki does appreciate. I like the idea being advanced by Georgian Windpower, a group that has partnered with steel giant Stelco Inc. to build a wind farm beside its plant in Nanticoke, along the shore of Lake Erie.

Georgian Windpower, as its name suggests, started out trying to put up turbines in beautiful Georgian Bay, but it faced so much opposition that it gave up and decided it would only target “brownfield” properties. That is, areas where there is heavy industrial pollution and where the scars left behind by industry could use some makeup. Hence, the Stelco plan. What better way to beautify one of the dirtiest, grungiest places in southern Ontario than to plop down dozens of wind turbines and start producing clean energy?

So while Suzuki is right on all accounts, I do think we should spend more time investigating brownfield locations for wind turbines than to go anywhere and everywhere the wind blows us.

Dr. Suzuki has obviously failed to investigate the growing body of scientific evidence suggesting that there are many negative economical, environmental, human health and quality of life issues emerging globally, with respect to industrial wind turbines.

The people of Toronto need to realize the turbine at Exhibition Place looks like a lawn ornament compared to the industrial turbines proposed for many parts of rural Ontario (they are 150 meters tall, newer models are getting bigger).

Furthermore, turbines in the distance are not the same as turbines up close. The people of this province need to understand there are people forced to leave their homes due to infrasound, shadow flicker, and sun flash on blades, amongst other complaints. Some are under gag order, so as not to expose the dirty side of this technology. This is happening in Canada, people. Unbelievable.

I’m not suggesting they are never appropriate, they do need to be sited carefully. The World Health Organization suggests much greater separation distances than those required in Ontario. The Government of Ontario has changed the rules under the Green Energy Act, to strip municipalities of any input. Rather than invest in “real research” the McGinty government is giving Ontario tax dollars to offshore companies, so they can produce expensive hydro. What’s going on here? The citizens of Ontario need to do their homework, instead of relying on the media to tell us what to think.